Curious about Carnival onboard credit and how you can spend it? You can technically spend On Board Credit (OBC) in many different ways and on almost anything you want.
However, there are ways to get the best value for your credit dollars. We list how you can benefit from credit and how to avoid areas that may not be so favorable.
What is Carnival credit on board?
OBCs are money credited to Carnival Cruise Line’s Sail & Sign account for use while on the cruise. Charges appear on your account when you purchase something with your Sail & Sign card.
When the cruise is over, you can settle your account by making the final payment using onboard credit, credit cards or cash. Using your credit on board is always advisable, as the credit expires when the cruise ends.
How do I get credits on board Carnival?
The ways people get OBC are as follows:
- Booking Agreement. If you book your cruise during a promotion, you can get anywhere from $25 to $1,000 in stateroom credit.
- Cancellations. If for any reason the cruise is canceled and later booked, additional credit may be applied in addition to a future cruise credit or FCC.
- Price drop. Carnival can provide the difference in credits if the price suddenly drops after you book it.
- Compensation. If something goes wrong on your cruise, you can get credits as an apology.
- military. Canadian and US Armed Forces may receive $50 credit per room on specific cruises.
- joint-stock. Carnival makes shareholder loans only if you own a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation. For cruises six days or less, you get $50 OBC. On cruises that last 7 to 13 days, you can get a $100 credit. On longer cruises, the credit may be $250.
Cruise Cash Credits can go towards almost anything you buy while on the ship, with the exception of extras (port charges, fees and taxes), medical expenses and purchases before you board the ship. Carnival conditions indicate that credits are non-refundable, have no cash value and are non-transferable.
How to best use credits and what to avoid
When using credit while cruising, some things offer more value and some things cost more to purchase when using onboard credit. We list the things cruisers can use their credits for, from best value to worst.
Special dining
You can use credits on board to eat specialty restaurants. However, you must make reservations after boarding. If you book using onboard credit, the restaurant you want may be full, so it’s best to book as soon as possible after boarding.
Specialty dining can range from an $18 meal at Ji Ji Asian Kitchen to an $80 dinner at Chef’s Table. This is a great way to treat yourself for those who don’t regularly frequent a specialty dining experience.
Free
Your credit may go toward tips if you didn’t prepay them before boarding. The tip is generally $14.50 per person per day for most rooms. Paying for rewards using onboard credits offers a great way to avoid the bill when the cruise is over.
Many say this is one of the best ways to use OBC, like you must pay rewards for excellent service. Additionally, there is no benefit to using another form of payment or prepayment instead of using an on-board loan.
Doing this works well. For example, if you have a 10-night stay in a standard occupancy room, the rewards will be $290.00 ($14.50 x 10 nights x 2 people). If you had a $600 loan, you would have $310 left over for other expenses.
Spa and treatments
A cruise is the perfect place to treat yourself to a spa day if you rarely find time for luxury. Being on the open ocean is calm and the ideal place to relax.
Carnival allows guests to use their credit for a day pass for the onboard bathroom. The cost varies depending on the services you want. You can use a thermal suite, relaxation room, hydrotherapy pool, experience showers, hot tub, steam room, hammam and sauna.
These can only be booked while on the ship and available services vary by facility. Guests can also receive credits for massages, facials, body scrubs, botox, acupuncture, teeth whitening, fillers, hairdressing, manicures, waxing, eyelash treatments and pedicures. You may also notice special offers for discounted treatments.
Photos
During a cruise, photographers are available to capture every moment, whether on board, on deck or at dinner.
Buying a photo is not mandatory. However, you can use credits to purchase a photo if you want to capture a specific moment.
Shore excursions
If you book your shore excursions on board, you can use credit to pay for them. The only caveat is that you have to put them on the shore excursion table after boarding. If you can plan your own excursions and explore independently, you can save money by not paying for the official carnival tours.
Prices for excursions vary drastically. For example, on some Caribbean cruises, you can pay $1,699 for a private oasis in the Bahamas or go snorkeling for about $10.
Gift Card
Some guests have purchased carnival gift cards using their credits. If you go on cruises with this cruise line often, this is a great way to carry over your credit and use it later on another cruise.
You can load any card with between $100 and $1,000 in credit, and you can buy five with each transaction. There’s no expiration date, so you can keep them until your next cruise, even if it’s a few years later.
Several people have contacted Carnival Cruise Lines asking if this hack is okay and have received mixed responses. Some answers have been that if you earned the credit from the reservation, you can’t use it to buy one gift card. However, for this purpose you can use other forms of credit, such as from shareholders or price reduction.
shopping
On every cruise ship, there are places selling souvenirs, watches, jewelry, clothes, alcoholic beverages, and accessories. You can use credits at any of these stores. Offshore purchases in international waters are tax-exempt.
However, they may not necessarily be cheaper than if bought on shore. Some items will be more expensive because you are on the ship and cannot shop.
Wi-Fi
You can use credits for it buy WiFi on a cruise. However, like most things, you have to buy it after boarding. You can save 15-20% depending on the package if purchased online before departure. While you can use credit on board, it’s not the best use of money.
beverages
On-board carnival credits can be used to purchase one Cheers! drink package or for individual drinks, but you have to wait to buy it until you board.
The downside is that Happy! the package is cheaper if purchased before boarding. So if you use your credit, you’ll pay more. The difference between buying online and onboard is about $6.00.
casino
You can use credit on board at the casino; however, you can only cash out your winnings. There is also a 3% fee for withdrawing funds on a table game, but there is no fee for withdrawing on a slot machine.
Art
Most investors and art enthusiasts tend not to buy art while on cruise ships. People generally attend art auctions on a ship for the free sparkling wine. Those who tend to buy the artwork are simply caught up in the excitement.
If you do your research, you may find that you can buy auction parts for much less elsewhere. Furthermore, you won’t be taking home the first art on the ship. They will mail you a copy from the warehouse.
While you can use your credit for this purchase, it is not advisable as each piece can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Bingo
Bingo is fun, but it may not pay off when it comes to using onboard Bingo credits on a cruise ship. On a cruise, Bingo cards start at $10, although people who buy multiple cards spend more.
In theory, you could earn thousands of dollars. However, the odds of winning are against you as there are many variables involved.
Also, not all prices in Carnival Bingo it’s cash. They can be items from the on-board shops such as spa services, jewellery, extra onboard credit and free bingo cards.
This may be another option if you enjoy playing Bingo and just want to have fun, but if you are looking for great value, you may want to consider another option.
Conclusion
While there are many items you can use your carnival credit for, not all of them may be a wise use of your money. Think how it will benefit you before you spend it. However, if you just want to have fun, you can do almost anything you like with it.
